Medicare physicians are halfway to at least some relief. The U.S. House of Representatives voted Oct. 27 to pass H.R. 674, legislation that would remove the three percent withholding provision created under the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005.

The provision would have required the government to withhold three percent of Medicare physician payments.

The U.S. Senate still needs to vote on the measure. And additional action is still needed to repeal the broken physician sustainable growth rate formula threatening to cut physician pay nearly 30 percent on Jan. 1.

Contact Indiana Sens. Lugar and Coats and ask them to act quickly on these measures to stabilize the Medicare system and ensure continued access for Medicare patients. For contact information, see this website.